'We didn't mean to offend anyone': Couple say they are 'deeply sorry' after viral TikTok video of wife touching an endangered monk seal on a Hawaiian beach sparks fury By Ronny Reyes For Dailymail.Com Published: 17:20 BST, 14 July 2021 | Updated: 17:20 BST, 14 July 2021 Viewcomments A newlywed couple have apologized and and will pay a fine after a video, showing them disturbing an endangered monk seal at a beach in Hawaii during, went viral on social media. The video, which has been seen more than 37,000 times, sparked outrage on Monday as it shows Lakyn approach and touch the endangered animal. The seal snaps at her while her husband, Stephen, recorded it for her TikTok. The Louisiana couple asked that their surnames not be published as they have received death threats over the video and have since set the TikTok account to private. 'We didn't mean to offend anyone,' Stephen told the Star Advertiser. 'We love Hawaii and the culture.' 'We're deeply sorry,' he added. 'We'll learn from this mistake.' The couple were on Kauai for their honeymoon when they noticed the monk seal resting on the beach. The couple claimed to be unaware of the laws pertaining to the endangered seals. Lakyn can be seen touching an endangered monk seal at a Hawaiian beach while her husband, Stephen, records it for her TikTok The seal snaps back at her. Hawaii's guidelines states that visitors should not touch or disturb monks seals on the beach The video ends with Lakyn darting away from the seal. The mammals are protected by state and federal law, and violators risk steep fines and prison time for disturbing them Stefanie Gutierrez, spokeswoman of National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, Pacific Islands Regional Office, said NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement is actively investigating the incident. Stephen said NOAA authorities contacted them on Sunday and assessed an undisclosed fine. 'We sincerely apologize if we offended any locals,' Stephen said. 'The last thing we want to do is disrespect anyone or anybody's culture or lifestyle.' Monk seals are protected by law and harassing a monk seal is a class C felony that can result in penalties of up to five years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine. There are an estimated 1,400 monk seals living in the Hawaiian Islands. Despite their endangered status, the monk seals are often harassed by tourist from all over the world. Last year, an unidentified man was caught slapping one of the seals. The man quickly darts off as the monk seal snaps at him for the violation The cameraman, Eric Mustevoy, who synced the slap to Akon's 'Smack That,' was investigated by officials and also received threats online for his participation. Anyone who spots a seal or witnesses a human-seal interaction call the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840. How to properly view monk seals View from a distance. Use binoculars or your camera's zoom for a close up. Do no disturb monk seals sleeping on the beach. Never touch, chase, or feed. Animals are wild, unpredictable, and protected. Limit viewing time to a few minutes. Stay behind any signs or barriers. Use the 'rule of thumb' to determine a safe distance if no signs or barriers are present Make a 'thumbs up' gesture and extend your arm straight in front of you. Turn your thumb parallel to the ground in your line of sight of the seal. If your thumb covers the entire seal, you are far enough away (about 50 feet or 15 meters). Souce: NOAA Fisheries Advertisement Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility